As the sun set in Texas last Thursday, a somber crowd gathered beneath the university’s clock tower to mourn casualties of the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine. The vigil, led by the University of Texas at Austin’s Palestinian Solidarity Committee, was the second since Hamas’ breaching of Israel’s southern border in a deadly attack […]
Kali Bramble
Posted inParks
Council, parks department and East Austin residents continue clash over city-owned Nash Hernandez building
City Council, Austin’s parks department and East Austin residents are still at odds over plans for a vacant facility at Festival Beach. The Nash Hernandez building, which has sat idle since 2009, was earmarked for Parks and Recreation Department offices and community space until last year, when Council action redirected staff to explore redevelopment as […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission delays demolition of North Campus bungalow
The Historic Landmark Commission could soon be going to bat for historic designation of a North Campus bungalow, following the last meeting’s turnout to oppose its demolition. The home, which sits at 701 Sparks Ave. across from Eastwood Park, was built in 1925 in a Spanish Revival style popularized by University of Texas School of […]
Posted inPreservation
Preservationists hold out hope for Norwood House restoration project
After a number of setbacks, preservationists are once again eyeing a decadeslong project to return a historic 1920s bungalow overlooking Lady Bird Lake to its former splendor. The Norwood House, which sits on public parkland bordering Interstate 35 and Riverside Drive, has undergone extensive rehabilitation since the launching of a city-backed restoration project in 2013. […]
Posted inDevelopment
Former skate shop cleared for demolition after successful relocation campaign
With No-Comply Skate Shop successfully relocated a stone’s throw from its prior home, the proposal to demolish the now vacant storefront at 812 W. 12th St. has returned to City Hall. The lot, owned by Austin Community College, inspired controversy when news broke of plans to replace the building with a brand-new student parking garage. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Austin’s Office of Sustainability lands EPA grant to tackle greenhouse gas emissions
The city of Austin will soon join cities across the nation in a federal initiative to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency slated to kick off the planning process this October. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, issued via the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, will fund […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy weighs climate goals, transmission constraints ahead of resource management plan update
After navigating the summer’s record temperatures, Austin Energy is shifting gears, preparing an update to its Resource Generation Plan for the first time since committing to total carbon neutrality by 2035. The 2030 Plan, which launched in 2020 as Covid-19 shook the globe, charts a course for the utility as it aims to transition entirely […]
Posted inPreservation
Preservationists grapple with front lawn makeover at Tarrytown Tudor
A proposal to redesign the front lawn of a historic Tarrytown home is receiving some pushback at the city’s Historic Landmark Commission, putting historic design standards for both landscaping and fencing to the test. The property at 2900 Tarry Trail, built in 1938 by architect Edward C. Gatewood, currently sits atop an open, tree-laden lawn […]
Posted inPreservation
Campaign to landmark Peter Pan Mini Golf gains traction at city’s preservation office
After 75 years in business, Austin’s Peter Pan Mini Golf is hoping to celebrate many more, with a grassroots campaign to zone the site historic beginning to take shape at the city’s Historic Preservation Office. The one-of-a-kind golf course made headlines after news broke that a change in landowners could call the renewal of its […]
Posted inPreservation
Travis Heights “gingerbread house” on track for historic landmark status
Travis Heights preservationists had cause for celebration last week, as a proposal to landmark an iconic neighborhood home broke up the typical routine of demolition and disappointment. The case to rezone the property at 2101 Travis Heights Blvd., known among neighbors as the “gingerbread house,” received the unanimous endorsement of the Historic Landmark Commission, who […]
Posted inTransportation
City champions electric bike-share as mode shift trailblazer
Four years into Austin’s commitment to have half its population choose alternatives to driving by 2039, the Transportation and Public Works Department is still hopeful its growing pains will eventually pay dividends. Division Manager Kirk Scanlon visited City Council’s Mobility Committee last week for an update on the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, a framework of […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy in talks to expand community solar program
As residents bemoan scorching temperatures, Austin Energy is looking to leverage the sunny weather’s benefits, with plans to ramp up the utility’s community solar program over the coming year. Customer Renewable Solutions Manager Tim Harvey stopped by last week’s Electric Utility Commission meeting for an update on the program, which currently serves a total of […]